Wife Mother Runner Mike Rahlmann Archives

runDisney Jingle Jungle 5K

November 24, 2015

This year I did what I considered to be my first runDisney 5K race during the Wine & Dine race weekend. I participated in the Jingle Jungle 5K race Saturday morning. I consider this my first 5K because I typically don’t sign up for 5K races during the runDisney race weekends. The reason for that is because I usually have to fly in the day before the bigger race or the challenge races so I can’t get the time off to participate in the 5K which takes place on the day I am flying. With this race it occurs on the same day as the half marathon. The first 5K race that I did run was during the Dopey Challenge last year, but I considered that different because it was the Dopey Challenge. How does that make sense? I don’t know but it does to me!

I also wanted to participate in this race because it starts at 7:00 a.m. (one of the latest start times of a 5K race in the runDisney series), and because it runs entirely through Animal Kingdom. In most of the runDisney races I participate in we run through Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom and ESPN Wide World of Sports. But not as many races go through Animal Kingdom besides the Wine and Dine Half Marathon, a few miles during the full marathon and the Jingle Jingle 5K.

The morning of the race I set my alarm for 5:00 and was ready and in the car before 6:00. Because my flight got in after the expo closed on Friday night I knew I would have to pick up my bib at the information tent at the race start. I had to be sure I brought my license with me or else I wouldn’t be able to pick up my bib. So when I arrived, I got a great parking spot and walked right over to the information booth and signed a waiver and picked up my bib. Then I looked around to connect with my other racing buddies. I spotted the Mickey Milers and their amazing costumes, said hello to them and then found Diana, Christina and Diana’s daughter Kenzie. This was going to be Kenzie’s first 5K.

Since this was Diana’s first race with her daughter and they were in corral C I told them I’d stick with the Mickey Milers and hang back in corral D. She wasn’t sure how long it would take them to get through the race and they were planning on stopping for every picture.

I went to my corral and reunited with the Mickey Milers. The team was easy to find with Bill Taylor’s “Elf” costume! Everyone was so creative with their costumes. I went with my low key approach but should consider stepping it up next time if I decide to do that race again. I also ran into Mike Rahlmann and his family in my corral so we got a picture together of course! I always try to grab a picture with Mike when we see each other at our races.

Jocelyn and her daughter (left), Pam and Mallory, myself and Mike from the Be Our Guest Podcast

The race started at 7:00 and we passed the start line at 7:10. The first section of the race went around the outside edge of the Animal Kingdom parking lot and then we entered in through the front gate. From there we walked towards the Tree of Life, towards Everest and then back stage before we went back to the finish line.

There were several character stops along the course and I was happy with the amount that was out there for the 5K. There was Rafiki, Timon, Chip and Dale, Donald and Goofy, Pluto, and a few others that I didn’t snag pictures of.

It was a very very warm and humid morning so I am glad we took it slow and walked this race. If this was any indication of how the rest of the race weekend was going to be, we were going to be up against some dangerous heat and humidity for the half marathon. I was sure to drink a lot of water after the race so that I would be hydrated for the rest of the day. I finished the race in a little over and hour which was perfect. We were done by 8:15 and I had time to go back to my hotel to shower for our 10:40 Mickey Milers breakfast reservation at Kona at the Polynesian Village Resort.

I was also glad to see that starting in the last corral and walking the entire race I finished in a little over and hour and there are no sweepers at that race. My mom is participating in her first runDisney 5K during marathon weekend and had been worried about not finishing the race in time. There will be plenty of time to enjoy the 5K course through Epcot and even take pictures. This race was a good way for me to estimate the pace and timing for our January race.

I really enjoyed this race and would consider doing it again. The downside to it is that you have to wake up early for the 5K race on the same day that you will be starting the half marathon at 10:00 that same night. If you are good about going back to your room and taking a nap then that works out great. But like me, I enjoy the social events that take place during the short trips that I have there so I generally don’t take the time to go back to my room and rest, let alone nap. So I ended up staying up for 24 hours straight. But again, it’s fun, I see my friends, have a great time and I’m at Disney so sleep isn’t necessary right?!

Learn More About Michelle Scribner-MacLean from Mickey Miles Podcast

May 5, 2014

I love to listen to podcasts when I run. As you know, some of my favorites are the Mickey Miles Podcast, Be Our Guest Podcast, Laugh or Go Crazy, Two Gomers, and the DIS Unplugged. I decided while on a run that since I listen to these people (friends) all the time in my headphones, I’d love to start more of a dialogue with them and learn more about the voices behind the podcast. I recently interviewed Mike Rahlmann and Rikki Niblett from the Be Our Guest Podcast because I know Mike attends the races, but learned via Twitter that he registered for the WDW marathon. That surprised me so I reached out to him and learned that he was bit by the running bug and Rikki is also going to run the 10K during 2015 Marathon Weekend.

I have had the pleasure to meet Michelle Scribner-MacLean and Mike Scopa at various meetups at runDisney races and

they are the friendliest most welcoming, personable people to meet. I had never been to a meetup before, so my first one was in Disneyland during the Dumbo Double Dare in 2013. It was Mike and Michelle’s first time hosting a Mickey Miles Podcast meetup and it was a big success! There were a lot of people there and Mike and Michelle were so gracious to stand in the hot humid sun to talk to their fans! I also attended their meetup during Princess weekend this February also. And I ran into them one night in Epcot during marathon weekend in January. It’s nice to just run into people and they remember who you are! That means a lot to me!

Just a few weeks ago I went to the Boston Marathon as a spectator to cheer on Michelle and other friends. I like to support those who are reaching for their dreams. Unfortunately I had to catch a train home and just missed Michelle by about 20 minutes! I really wished I could have seen her!

I asked her and Mike if I could interview them for my blog and of course, they said yes! Here is what Michelle shared with me:

Have you always been interested in running?

Absolutely not. I have always been active. As a kid I did baseball and tennis and as a teen I did field hockey and was captain of my tennis team in high school. Running was a punishment or something I needed to do to get do the real sport that I wanted to do.

What was your first race?

My first race was a half marathon — Disney 2010 in January. It probably would have made more sense to start on a local race but Disney felt like a safe place to start.

What was your first non Disney race?

I did the Turkey Trot on my town (probably 2011)

Do you have a dream race?

In terms of location, running in Hawaii would be amazing. I’d love it if runDisney would branch out and do running vacations in different locations.In terms of my dream running team…any time I run with friends and family is the best.

You have been running with your son Liam lately. Do you think you will run a marathon with him?

I love running with Liam (and he’s signed up for some 10Ks this summer). His goal is to run a half in two years. He’s not great about practicing but he’s enthusiastic about running and loves running Disney.

Now that you have accomplished the Boston Marathon (yay!) do you wish to do it again?

As someone who grew up 10 miles outside of Boston, the marathon has always been something I’ve revered but never aspired to. The events of last year and the opportunity to run for my mom’s hospital (Spaulding Rehab, who did a lot of the rehab for the bombing victims) made it important for me to run this year. Doing the Dopey last year gave me the confidence to be able to do it. Boston was my third marathon and, by far, the most difficult. Having said that, I would do it again in a second. The crowd was amazing and the feeling of running down Boylston Street was really indescribable. I was very proud of my city.

Do you have a favorite moment from that day?

Seeing the crowds, generations of families, with “take back our finish line” posters was really cool. However, my favorite part of the day was the hugs and the look of pride that I received from my family and friends who were there to to cheer me on.

Do you listen to podcasts when running? What are your favorites?

I rarely listen to podcasts while I’m running (I usually listen to music). If it’s over 13 miles I’ll listen to WDWToday, This American Life, The Moth, and books on tape.

How did you and Mike become friends and decide to do the podcast?

Mike and I were both writers on AllEars.net. It turns out that we had a lot in common: running, teaching, and love of Disney. We also lived near each other and became friends. He coached me through my first half marathon and a few years later we started TeamAllEars to raise money for breast cancer research, help foster the love of running Disney, and to encourage new runners. We wrote many blogs about running and had lots of discussions with new runners. The podcast was born out of this and the desire to help folks learn about running Disney races.

I love new gear just like you do. What is your favorite gear you use?

I’m a “gadget girl.” I love my technology gadgets. My favorite is my Garmin 220.

I am also using Jeff Galloway for ecoaching. What was the most valuable thing you learned from him?

It was wonderful to work with Jeff. It was nice to have a “go to” person for my questions and he was so supportive.

I train teachers and he’s a born teacher. The thing I learned is that running, like teaching, is a craft. You can always learn more, always improve if you want to.

Thank you Michelle for answering these questions! I love it! I do wish I could have given you a hug that day in Boston! But I am very proud of you and so happy you enjoyed that special day and major accomplishment! Keep up the great work! You and Mike are doing a great job keeping us informed of runDisney events and also of running information that we can find useful and entertaining.

Be Our Guest Podcast Rikki Is Now A Runner, Too!

April 29, 2014

Last week I had Mike Rahlmann from the Be Our Guest Podcast on as a guest, this week his co-host Rikki Niblett is also going to be a guest on my blog. I knew Mike and Rikki were becoming more interested in running and actually enjoying it more. When I heard that runDisney was having a meetup on the road in Alanta, I also saw that Rikki was there. I didn’t realize she was interested in running at that point.

So I asked her about her recent running habit and here are her answers!

How did you begin running? Did Mike influence you to get started or did you start on your own?
Honestly, at first, I did start running because of the Atlanta runDisney meet up. I signed up my husband for the runDisney meet and after I’d signed him up, I thought, well, I can train a little bit and I had enough training time where get close to where I could run two miles. I thought that that shouldn’t be too hard. So, I decided to sign up too.

In addition, my friends were all runDisney runners, and of course, Mike was too. I saw how they were able to do it, so I thought, why not? As soon as I saw that I was chosen, I started running around my neighborhood so I wouldn’t look completely stupid out there. So, honestly, both runDisney’s Atlanta meet up and my friends running all the different Disney races is what influenced me to start to pick it up on my own.

What was your first race?
My first race was actually before I started running for real. (If you call what I do that…I still don’t consider myself a runner, even though I probably am at this point.) I actually ran the Disney Halloween 5k, back in October of 2011. Mike’s daughter was originally supposed to come down for the event but backed out last minute. So, he offered up the bib and I decided that I could try it. Again, my friends were all running that race, so I thought, what the heck.

My first official first race, under my name and where I’ve done training, will be the runDisney WDW 10k during Marathon Weekend in January.

How do you train?
I train around my neighborhood. I have a great, quiet neighborhood I can run in. I started out using the Couch to 5k method, but now I have come up with a method that works well for myself. Each run I go out for, I add one more minute of running. After that, I’ll finish my run with a five minute walk. Right now, I’m up to running 33 minutes straight, and will continue to add one minute on, each time I go out. (So, next time I go out I’ll run 34 minutes straight, then 35, and so on.)

I have considered doing the run one minute, walk one minute method though. Maybe once I get to to the point where I’m running a 5k around my neighborhood (I’m currently a little under 2.5 miles), I’ll try a different method to see if I like it better and if it gives me better stamina.

What or who inspires you?
My friends. They come from all walks of life and they are out there running these races like it’s no body’s business. It’s incredible to watch.

My husband also inspires me. He’s always been the runner in the family and it makes me proud that I’ve finally started doing something he enjoys. Usually it’s the other way around, where he’s doing something because I like it. When I go out, I don’t run with him usually, cause he’s a lot faster and can run a lot further (he’s training for the WDW Marathon this time out), but I always feel like he’s proud of me when I return back home from a run.

Finally, not to sound conceited, but in a way, I inspire myself. I never thought I could do this. I always hated running. The mile was torture in school. Now, I’m out there running 2.5 miles semi-easily. With no stopping. That’s incredible to me. I love seeing myself accomplishing this feat that I never thought was possible.

Do you have a dream race?
Right now, it’s the runDisney 10k in January. I’ve never run that far before, ever. Maybe someday I’ll be brave enough to try the longer distances, but right now, the 10k is a good length for me.

Would you say you have now been bit by the running bug?
Honestly, I think so. I need to run at least once a week now. I feel gross if I haven’t. I usually try to run twice a week though, if I can. But I have to go out at least once.

Do you have any favorite gear or gadgets?
I’m still such a newb runner that I don’t really. I use RunKeeper to keep track of my times and my distance. I carry my iphone in my hand. I really need to probably buy an armband if I’m going to keep up this running thing, which it looks like I’m going to.

Which Disney Races will you be doing this year and next?
Just the 10k for Marathon Weekend 2015.

How has running changed your life (if it has)?
It has made me proud of myself. It’s proven to me that I’m stronger than I ever thought I could be. It has also made me exercise, which I really never did on a regular basis before. It’s proven to me that anyone can be a runner. If I can do it, you can. All it takes is one step at a time.

Do you have any favorite podcasts? (Disney or non-Disney and/or running related)
Of course I do! It’s called the Be Our Guest Podcast…I may or may not be a co-host of it. 😉

I also do listen to a few others. On my Disney list is WDW Today, WDW Radio Show, The DIS, The Unofficial Guide’s Disney Dish Podcast, WEDway Radio, the DFB Podcast, and Radio Harambe. I also have a couple of non-Disney podcasts. They are ONCE-Once Upon a Time Podcast and The Walking Dead TV podcast (I got sucked into that one thanks to the hubby). While running, I also listen to Magical Mouse Radio, Disney Pandora Radio, and Disney iTunes radio, switching off depending on my mood.

Thanks Rikki for answering these questions for us! I have some advice I can share with you. You seem to be doing real well as you start your running and training routine. When I started, I did the same approach where I tried to run the entire distance without stopping. However, I made the mistake of going out too often and doing too much, too soon which ended in injury. You are wise to not run every single day. But if you do wish to increase your distance, then research the Jeff Galloway run/walk/run method. I have him as my e-coach and began using his training style 2 years ago and that has enabled me to do half marathons and now I am about to run my 3rd marathon next weekend! So there are so many things ahead of you to learn! And I’d love to answer any questions you may have!

Also, get a case for that phone! I’d hate to see an iPhone go crashing to the ground! There are spibelts that can go around your waist that you can fit your phone in along with any additional small items you may want to carry.

Thanks for stopping by my blog Rikki!

Tag: Mike Rahlmann

runDisney Jingle Jungle 5K

Learn More About Michelle Scribner-MacLean from Mickey Miles Podcast

Be Our Guest Podcast Rikki Is Now A Runner, Too!